The longtime Atlanta Brave and long-ago Staunton Brave, Brian Snitker, was named the National League Manager of the Year last week.
A catcher in Staunton in 1976 and 1977, Snitker went on to play in Atlanta’s minor league system from 1977-1980, appearing in 236 minor league games, making it as far as Triple-A Richmond for a few at-bats in 1978.
He began his managing career in 1982, and managed at almost every level possible. He was the Braves’ third base coach from 2007 to 2013, and was named the manager of the club on May 17th, 2016.
After a season in which Atlanta surprised the baseball world and won the National League East division with a 90-72 record, Snitker received 17 of 30 first place votes, and had 116 total vote points, nipping Milwaukee’s Craig Counsell’s 99 points to win the award.
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